US Ambassador to Qatar resigns

Move comes as Sunni Arab nations cut off diplomatic relations with Qatar over support for terrorism.

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Gary Willig, 13/06/17 20:47

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US Ambassador to Qatar Dana Shell Smith announced her resignation Tuesday, as relations between Qatar and the Sunni Arab states continue to deteriorate.

“This month, I end my 3 years as US Ambassador to #Qatar. It has been the greatest honor of my life and I’ll miss this great country," Smith tweeted Tuesday.

Smith did not explain why she was stepping down or if anyone would replace her as the US envoy to Qatar.

Last week, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates all cut diplomatic ties with Qatar and shut down land, sea and air links. Jordan and several other countries in the region followed suit.

Those countries accuse Qatar of supporting terror groups in the region, specifically the Muslim Brotherhood, a charge denied by Qatar.

"No civilized nation can tolerate this violence or allow this wicked ideology to spread on its shores," Trump told reporters during a joint news conference with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis. He accused Qatar of having historically financed and supported terrorism "at a very high level."

However, Earlier on Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson urged Gulf states to ease their blockade of Qatar, explaining that it has "humanitarian consequences" and hinders the United States' military efforts.